Car-dumping apparatus



May 22; 1923.

, c. c. SMITH CAR DUMPING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 21

May 22, 1923.

C. C. SMITH CAR DUMPING APPARATUS Fild Jan. 21, e Sheets-Sheet 2 nzfor.

jhI/G May 22, 1923. 1,456,256

C. C. SMITH CAR DUMPING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 21 1922 6 Sheets- Sheet 5 fmwamior.

' May 22, 1923.

- c. c. SMITH CAR DUMPING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 21, 1922 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 I 3mm May 22, 1923.

c. c. SMITH CAR DUMPING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 21, 1922 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Patented May 22, 1923.

[TED

CLEMENT C. SMITH, OF W'HEELIN G, WEST VIRGINIA.

CAB-DUIMPING APPARATUS.

Application filed January 21,1922. Serial No. 530,817.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLEMENT C. SMITH, a citizen of the United States of America, and resident of lVheeling, county of Ohio, and State of West Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Car-Dumping Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates broadly to car.- dumping apparatus, and more specifically to mechanism for automatically dumping the contents of mine cars.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a dumping platform for use on mine tipples, the same having improved mechanism for effecting the arrest, the dumping and the release of cars which mount thereon and providing for convenient control both of cars and platform.

A further object is to provide a car-dump for tipples in which the tilting of the plat form to dumping position and the release of cars is effected by a single operating lever under control of an attendant.

A still further object is to provide a dumping platform equipped with means whereby, when dumping posit-ion is assumed, it is automatically locked against chance return movement, and which is adapted, following advance of a car therefrom and manual retraction of said locking means, to automatically resume its normal horizontal position.

Another object is to provide, in association with a dumping platform, a through trackway to which cars are advanced following unloading, said trackway being arranged to provide for the arrest of cars so advanced and the prompt return travel of such cars to and over a return track or siding.

Other important objects of the invention will hereinafter be made apparent in the following description in which reference is made to the accompanying drawings.

In said drawings Figure 1 isa side elevation of the invention with parts of the plat-form-supporting beams broken away;

Figure 2 is a similar view, showing the platform in dumping position with a car released, as following the dumping operation, and ready to advance to the throughtrackway Figure 3 is a front end elevation of the platform occupying horizontal position with a car mounted thereon, and showing the end-gate elevating mechanism;

Figure 4: is a similar view of the platform occupying inclined position;

Figure 5 is an enlarged top plan view of the platform;

Figure 6 is an enlarged longitudinal section of the platform with its parts occupy ing normal horizontal position; and

Figure 7 is a similar view, showing the parts in inclined car-dumping position.

Referring to said drawings, 1 indicates generally a platfrom which, as herein shown for illustrative purposes, is composed of a plurality of channel members 2 arranged transversely in supporting relation to parallel short lengths of sections 3 of track rails which, in the normal horizontal posi tion of the platform, have their rear ends registering with the ends of main track rails a. Said platform is fitted between two opposite longitudinally extending stationary supports or timbers 5 provided on the tipple structure, and'each of said supports has mounted uponthe top thereof a horizontal seat 6 upon which rests a rocker member 7 having an arcuately curved under face.

Each of said rockers is carried laterallyof and is preferably formed integral with the upper portion of an upright bracket 8 having its base rigidly attached to the platform 1 outside the position of the adjacent rail section 3. Thus, as will be apparent, the platform is suspended from the opposite seats 6 through the intermediacy of said brackets 8 with their rockers 7, and also that, through said rockers, the platform is adapted for rocking movement on said seat-s. Links 9 pivotally attached at their rear ends to the rockers at points adjacent tothe rear ends of the latter and at their front ends to the seats 6 serve to maintain the platform against longitudinal shifting movement with respect to said seats.

Pivotally attached to suitable depending brackets 10 carried on the under side of the platform adjacent to the rear end of the latter are the rear ends of a pair of longitudinally extending members or bars 11 which underlie the platform and which have their front end portions 11 forwardly and, upwardly inclined to form chocks for the forward wheels 12 of cars 13 which mount the platform. In the normal horizontal position of the platform said chocking members 11 have their said inclined end portions 11 lying closely adjacent to the rail sections 3 with their ends projecting above said sections a suitable distance. A block 14 mounted on the said projecting end of each of the checks 11 is adjustable longitudinally to vary the position at which chocking action occurs to suit cars having wheel bases of different lengths, said blocks being designed to have the forward wheels 12 abut thereagainst when the car 13 has assumed a position on the platform suitable for dumping.

The oppositely disposed parallel checking members 11 are rigidly connected adjacent to their inclined end portions 11 by a transverse bar 15, and normally disposed in supporting relation to said bar are hooks 16 fixed upon and depending from a transverse rod 17 which is journaled for rotary movement in suitable bearing brackets 18 carried on the front end portion of the platform. Each of said hooks has formed on the front face or edge thereof at an appropriate point intermediate its ends an up wardly facing shoulder 19 which constitutes a seat upon which the bar 15 rests for sup porting the front ends of the checking n1en1 bers when the latter occupy their elevated horizontal positions. A compression spring 20 interposed between each book 16 and a stationary part of the platform structure, as a suitably located depending bracket 21, serves to normally hold said hook in a forwardly thrust position relative to the bar 15. Each of said hooks also carries, or has formed integral therewith, a rearwardly extending arm 22 having an arcuately curved under surface.

As a car approaches a position on the platform in which its forward wheels 12 on gage with the blocks 14 borne by the inclined chocks 11, the platform begins to swing from the horizontal position shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 6 to the inclined position shown in Figs. 2, l and 7. such swinging movement being due to the preponderance of weight that is then carried in advance of the seating portions of the opposite rockers 7, or in advance of the points at which the weight of the car and platform then rest upon the seats 6; and in swinging to said inclined position the rockers rock forward on said seats in a manner which is obvious.

As the platform and car rock forward as aforesaid a hook 23 carried by a vertically swinging}; end-gate 24 of an ordinary type engages the hook-like ends 25 of a pair of levers 25 which are arranged in opposing complemental relation, as shown in Fig. 3, with the result that movement of said endgate is arrested and the car swings away therefrom, as shown in Fig. 2, with the front end of the car open to d scharge its load by gravity to a suitably located chute or screen 26, indicated in dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 2. iVhen dumping; position is reached, the forward wheels of the car rest against the blocks 14 of the chocking members, and the front ends of the rail sec tions 3 rest upon suitably located stopblocks 2?. in said position said front ends of me rail sections 3 are disposed in registering relation to downwardly and forwardly inclined rails forming a part of a through trackway 28. Provided in said trackway is a dip, the lowest point in which is indicated at 28 in Figs. 1 and 2, whence said trackway inclines upward to a suitable extent, the degree of inclination and the length of the upward incline being such that the travel of a car which passes from the platform to the trackway 28 gradually, but promptly, arrested so that it comes to a stop at a suitable distance in advance of the platform, whence it gravitates rearward' and enters a return switch or trackway 29 located laterally with respect to the plat-' form. I

The release of dumped cars borne by the forwardly inclined platform is effected by rearward shifting of a substantiall; upright lever 30 which is carried upon an end of a transverse rock-shaft 31 mounted in bear. ings provided on the under side of a transverse beam 32 interposed between and carried by the opposite supports or timbers 5. Said rock-shaft has fixed thereon two upwardly and forwardly inclined arms 33 which carry upon their outer ends anti-find tion rollers 34. When the platform occupies its said inclined dumping position, said rollers 34 are closel overhmn or enaactedb Y 7 the forward portions ofthe arms borneby the hooks 16. Consequently, when said rock-shaft is rocked rearward by rearward shifting movement of the lever 30, the arms 33 carried by sa d rock-shaft are swung upward and, through the rollers 3st, exert force upon the arms 22 whereby the hooks 1.6 are swungrearward against the tension of the springs 20 out of supporting relation lit) to the checking members 11, whereupon the latter swing or gravitate on their pivotal mountings to the position shown in Figs. 2 and 7. in which the inclined front ends 11 are wholly withdrawn from checking posi tion. chocks the front ends of the members 11. supported by the hooks 16, a lip or bill 35 formed on each book then. having); the bar 15 seated thereon.

Rigidly ,arried on the under side of the platform is a rack-bar 36 of suitably curved form. Said rack-bar is designed to have a dog- 37 engage with a tooth or teeth thereof when the inclined dumping position of the platform is assumed, whereby chance return of the platform to or toward its normal position is prevented. Said dog forms one In said withdrawn position of thearm of a lever 37 of substantially bell-crank form which is pivoted upon a bracket 38 carried by the beam 32. The opposite arm of said bell-crank lever 37 has a slotted upwardly extending terminal lug 39, and movable in the slot of said terminal is a laterally directed pin -10 carried by the upper end of a rod 41 which has pivotal connection at its lower end with a. rearwardly extending arm e2 carried by the rock-shaft 31. A compression spring 43 carried by said rod 41 eiierts a pressure whereby the bell-crank 37 is normally maintained in a forwardly swung position in which the dog 3T will engage the teeth of the rack-bar 36 when the platform is swung to dumping position as aforesaid.

Following travel of the car from the platform, the operating lever 30 is shifted rearward for effecting withdrawal of the dog 37 from interlocking relation to the rackbar, such withdrawal being effected through the rock-shaft 31. arm 42, and rod 41. This releases the platform and allows the latter to resume its horizontal position, it being understood that the weight of the rear end of the platform exceeds that of the front end and that, consequently, it normally occupies said position. Suitable supports or rests for the rear end of the platform are provided, bolts at being herein shown as constituting such rests, said bolts being adjustably mounted in suit-able brackets 4E5 carried by a stationary part of the tipple structure.

As the platform rocks back to its normal position, a roller 46' carried by each of the choc-king members 11 engages the top surface of a trackway47 carried upon the adjacent side of a longitudinally extending bar or beam a8 which has one end mounted upon the transverse beam 32 and its opposite end mounted upon a suitable support, as a bracket 49. Said trackway t? has such a curvature that, in the forward travel of the roller 46 thereover, induced by the return movement of the platform, said roller is elevated to the extent that the checking member by which said roller is carried is returned to or slightly above its elevated operative posit-ion in'which the transverse bar seats upon the shoulder 19 of the hook 16.

A brake mechanism is provided by means of which the speed of the forward rocking movement of the platform to dumping position may be retarded as desired. Said mechanism comprises a substantially upright lever 50 pivoted intermediate its ends upon a bracket 51 carried by the beam 32. Pivoted upon the upper end of said lever are two brake-shoes 52 which are adapted to be moved into frictional relation to lateral flanges 36 formed on opposite sides of the rack-bar 36. Rigidly car 'ied by the lower end of the lever.,50is arearwardly extending arm 53 having a laterally directed terminal lug 53 An arm 54- carried by and depending from the rock-shaft 31 stands in front of said lug so that slight forward rocking movement of said rock-shaft, effected by thrusting the operating lever forward, effects rocking of the lever on its pivot for presenting the brake-shoes 52 in frictional relation to the flangesof the rack-bar. A bolt 55 mounted in the lug is adjustable with respect to the arm 5a to regulate the throw of the operating lever necessary for applying the brake.

When the checking members drop to carreleasing position, the levers 25 are actuated to release the hook 23 of the end-gate 24, allowing the latter to drop to its normal po sition in closing relation to the end of the car. The mechanism by which said levers are so actuated may be of any suitable character, that herein shown, for illustrative purposes comprising a chain 56 attached at one end to a rod or other member 57 borne by one of said chocking members and at its opposite end to a substantially up right arm 58 fixed-on a shaft 59. I Said shaft is mounted for rocking movement in suitable bearings and has fixed thereon a second arm 60. Attached to'said arm 60 is a cable 61 having its opposite end attached to the end of an arm 62 carried by a shaft 63 which is mounted for rotary movement in suitable bearing brackets, as 64, mounted upon the top of a transverse beam 65 carried by upright posts 66 located in suitable positions at opposite sides of the trackway in front of the platform 1. A second arm 67 fixed on the shaft 63 has attached'thereto an end of a cable 68 by which is suspended a block 69. Said block is arranged for vertical sliding movement with respect to parallel guide members 70 which depend from. the cross beam 65. i

The levers 25 are of angular form and are pivotally mounted intermediate their ends upon the lower end of the guide constituted by said guide members 70. The upper ends of said levers incline outwardly in opposite direction and have attached thereto the ends of toggle links 71 whichhave their opposite ends pivotally mounted upon the block 69. i

As is obvious, when the chocking members occupy their elevated, or operative, positions, the levers 25 have their hooks 25 disposed iii-meeting relation, as shown in Fig. 3. in which position they serve to support the end-gate ofthe car whose hook engages therewith, as aforesaid. When,

however, the chocking members are swung; to their lowered positions for releasing the car, the levers 25 are actuated through the intermediate mechanism described to swing to positions in which said hooks 25 are separated, as shown in Fig. l, thus releasing the end-gate simultaneously with the release of the car.

lVhat is claimed is l. A car-dumping mechanism comprising a platform carrying rail sections for receiving a car thereon, said platform being rockable to and from inclined car-dumping position, and devices for checking the wheels of cars snrmeun g said rail sections, said devices being shiftable from operative position only when the dumping position of the platform is assumed and being returnable to operative position witii return movement of the platform.

2. Jr car-dumping mechanism comprising a platform carrying rail. sections for receiving a ca thereon, said platform being reel:- able to and from inclined car-dumping position, wheel checks carried by said platform, means operable who the platform occupies dumping position for s ir'ing said checks to inoperative position, 1 means for rein'ning said checks to opei tive position.

3. A car-dumping mechanism comprising a platform carrying rail sections for receiving a car thereon, said platform being reel:- able to and from inclined car-dumping position, wheel checks carried by said platform, means operable when the platform occupies dumping position for shifting said checks to inoperative position, and means actuated by return of the platform to hoi 'zental posi tion whereby said checks are returned to operative position.

l. it car-dumping apparatus comprising a platform carrying rail sections for receiving a car thereon, rocker-like supports for said platform, said platform normally oecupying horizontal position and being adapted to be rocked forward on said supports to inclined dun'iping position by the weight of a car impose-d thereon, vheel checks ca ied by said platform, means for withdrawing said checks from operative position fell wing dumping, and means automatically acting to return said chocl-zs to operatire position the platform risumes its normal position.

5. A car-dumping apparatus comprising a platform carrying rail sections for receiving a car thereon, rocker-like supports for said platform, said platform normallyoccupying horizontal position and being adapted to be recited forward on said supports to inclined dumping position by the weight of a car imposed thereon, wheel checks carried by said platform, means for withdrawing said checks from operative position following dumping, and means ac tuated by return movement of the platform to normal position whereby said checks are returned to operative position.

6. A car-dumping apparatus comprising a platform carrying rail sections for receiving a car thereon, rocker-like supports for.

said platform, said platform normally occupying. horizontal position and being acapted to be rocked forward on said supports to inclined dumping position by the weight of a car imposed thereon, means for controlling the speed of the inclining movement, wheel checks carried by said platform, means operable when the platform occupies dumping position for withdrawing said checks from operative position for releasing a dumped car, and means for restoring said checks to their normal position.

7. A car-dumping apparatus comprising a platform carrying rail sections for receiving a car thereon, rocker-like supports for aid platform, said platform normally occupying horizontal position and being adapted to be rocked forward on said supports to inclined dumping position by the weight of a car imposed thereon, means for controlling the speed of the inclining move ment, wheel checks carried by said platform, means for withdrawing said checks from operative position for releasing a dumped car, and means automatically acting to return said checks to operative position as the platform resumes its normal position.

8. A ear-dumping apparatus comprising a platform carrying rail sections for receiving a car thereon, rocker-like supports for said platform, said platform normally occupying horizontal position and being adapted to be rocked forward on said supports to inclined dumping position by the weight of a car imposed thereon, automatically interlocking means whereby said platform is maintained in inclined position against chance return movement, means for disengaging said interlocking means to permit return of said platform to normal posi-' tion, checks for thewheels of a car imposed on the platform, means for withdrawing said checks to release a car occupying dumping position, and means for returning said checks to operative position.

9, A car-dumping apparatus comprising a platform carrying rail sections for receiving a car thereon, rocker-like supports for said platform, said platfo -n1 normally oc-- cupying horizontal position and being adapted to be rocked forward on said supports to inclined dumping position by the weight of a car imposed thereon, means engageable with and supporting the end-gate of a car during the dumping operation. wheel checks for retaining the car on the platform while in dumping position, means for withdrawing said checks to release the car, and means actuated by withdrawal of said checks whereby said end-gate supporting means are released, and means for returning said checks to operative position.

10. In cardumping apparatus, a. platform carrying rail sections for receiving a car thereon, said platform being rockable to and from inclined dumping position, members whereby a car on said platform is chocked during the dumping operation, a through trackway with whichsaid rail sections register when the platform is in dumping position, means for withdrawing said chocking members to permit the advance of a dumped car to said trackway, and means for returning said checking members to operative position following such advance of a dumped car.

11. A car-dumping mechanism comprising a platform carrying rail sections for receiving a car thereon, said platform being rockable to and from inclined car-dumping position, means for holding a car on said platform when the latter assumes dumping position, means for locking the platform against chance return from dumping position, and means for controlling the speed of movement of said platform to dumping position, said locking means comprising a curved rack-bar and a dog for engaging said rack-bar, and said control means including a brake-shoe for acting upon a part of said rack-bar.

12. A car-dumping vmechanism comprising a platform carrying rail sections for receiving a car thereon, said platform being rockable to and from inclined car-dumping position, means for holding a car on said platform when the latter assumes dumping position, means for locking theplatform against chance return from dumping posi tion, and means for controlling the speed of movement of said platform to dumping position, said locking means comprising a curved rack-bar having lateral flanges and a dog for releasably engaging said rack-bar, and said control means including brakeshoes for frictionally engaging the flanges of said rack-bar.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CLEMENT C. SMITH. 

